Pussy Riot members freed from jail

Following the announcement of an amnesty approved by the Russian parliament earlier this week that coincides with the 20th anniversary of Russia's constitution, Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina could be released from jail as early as tomorrow, their lawyer reports.

Following the announcement of an amnesty approved by the Russian parliament earlier this week that coincides with the 20th anniversary of Russia's constitution, Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina could be released from jail as early as tomorrow, their lawyer reports.

"According to the draft law passed today, my clients will be freed," lawyer Irina Khrunova told Bloomberg, while Petya Verzilov, Tolokonnikova's husband, says "they are slightly sceptical of course. When you're living in these conditions it's hard to think about the Duma passing some bill, and it seems like it could never happen, so it's a big surprise for them that it does actually seem to be happening."

Tokolonnikova was recently moved from a prison in Mordovia to a jail in Krasnoyarsk (Siberia), where she was later hospitalised, while Alyokhina currently serves her sentence in a prison in Nizhny Novgorod. [viaFACT]

Update: President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina have been freed from jail.

Update 2: It has now been 100% confirmed that Maria Alyokhina has been released from jail, with Nadezhda Tolokonnikova expected to be released later today.